Door mounting



Jan. 20, 1959 K. K. KESLING 2,869,959

DOOR MOUNTING Filed Jan. 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/llillli/IIIIZ INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNE United States Patent noon MGUNTING Keith K. Kesling, Dayton, Ghio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application January 17, 1958, Serial No. 709,533

'7 Claims. (Cl. 312-.-328) This invention relates to refrigerators and particularly to the mounting of a door on a compartment therein.

In the refrigerator cabinet art there has recently been provided in a cabinet or on a door thereof a plurality of small compartments which augment the main food storage chamber of the cabinet and are utilized for the storage of blocks or cuts of cheese and the like anddishes containing food stuffs left over from the dinner table and are desirable to be concealed in compartments. These compartments are preferably closed by separate doors necessitating individual hinging thereof. Hinging of such doors is ordinarily carried out by employing hinges cousisting of two or more parts and a separate spring associated' therewith and with a door to bias the door closed. This prior hinge arrangement is initially expensive and is tedious. and timely to inst-all on or ina refrigerator cabinet and adds to the manufacturing cost thereof. "1 contemplate the hinging of doors to compartmentsina refrigerator. cabinet or on its door in an improved 'and l ,se'alagainst the" front of cabinet 10. Panel 17 is formed toprovide-a recess; 2? in the inner face" of door and a plurality. of food supporting shelves extends across the less costly manner.

An object of my invention is to provide a unique door biasing. arrangement.

Another object of my. invention is. to pivotally-irnoun-tl a door on a compartment for swinging movement rela tl-ve thereto by. one-piece combined doorhingev pin and hinge. spring elements which are. readily and removably' assembled in place the assembly of whichbiasinglyholds the. door centered with respect to an access opening-in the compartment.

A further object of my invention. is to provide a door mounting and biasing arrangement a. part of which is elfective while the door isclosed to maintain itshut and another. Part of which is torsioned-upon, opening. the door or c os ng am In carrying out the foregoingobjects'it is a still further and: more, specific. object of, my invention to. pivotally; mount a door on a compartment by-one-piece. spring. elemer ts in. such a manner that portions of the elements; are tensioned to bias the door closed and; when the door is opened: other parts of; the elements. are. torsioned in. a direction that will not damage their .tensioned portions nor impair the capability thereof tomaintainv the door Closed.

Further objects; and advantages of the present. invention- Willi be. apparent-from the. following description, ret'- erence beinghad tothe accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the presentinvention is clearly-shown.

in the drawings:

Figurel is a front view (If-i3. refrigerator cabinet/showing the cabinet door in openposition with compartments on its innerface;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view talgen on the line 2 -2ot Figure 1 showing compartments on the refrigerator cabinet door provided with doors hinged according to my invention;

u s an nl ed r a mesisata e ti na i w dea1 t ha e i i f i a re r h aromsrttasat 199 arin qgrssit ases; hroat; ni st llv.

1 having a front access opening.

Patented Jan. 20, 1959 F ice 10 line 66 of Figure 3 illustrating the position of portions ofa combined hinge pin and hinge spring element on a compartment door readied for mounting on a wall of the compartment.

in the drawings of the present application I show in Figure 1 thereof a refrigerator cabinet generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. Cabinet 10 has a metal shell or housing 11 forming the outer walls thereof and in which there is provided, by an inner metal liner 1?. with insulating material thereabout, a food storage chamber An insulated door structure 15, hingedly mounted upon cabinet 10, normally closes the access opening of food chamber 14. An evaporator, mounted in the top portion of chamber 14 behind a concealing door 16', of a closed refrigerating system associated with cabinet 10 is utilized to cool and cause circulation of air in the food chamber for preserving food products stored therein as is conventional in the art. The construction of door 15 is substantially conventional and 'it comprises an outer metal pan, an inner molded plastic 0 panel- 27 with insulating material 18 (see Figure 2) therebetween. Edges ofthe door pan and panel 17 are secured together by screws. or the like and a resilient gasket 19 disposed and. locked between their edges is adapted to p recess.v .One side'of. the upper portion of doorpanel 17 'is so shaped and provided with shelves 2?. as to form opposed walls of a plurality of compartments 23 within .0 recess 21 in the inner face 'of door 15 (see Figure 2).

. Compartments 1 3 augment the storagecapacity of chamber 14 and are utilized to store small blocks orcuts of cheese or the like and? left over food products from a dinner table, The shelves 22 are each provided with a raised front lip or rail- 24 which prevents articles placed in compartments 23. from slipping; off the shelves or strikin'g doors adjacent thereto employed to-close the access opening; of theycompartments upon opening and/ or closing; swinging movemeritsv of the main cabinet; door 15.

It, is to benoted thatthe bottom wall of compartments 2 3 or shelves 22 terminate inwardly of the compartment access openings and; are. substantially flush with a shouldered front doorjam'o portion 26 of wails 27' of the com- I partments and which door jamb is provided with opposed flat side surfaces 28. a

In accordance with my invention I provide means for p ivotally mounting a molded plastic closure'hiember or door 31, having a hand grip or knob 32 (see Figure" l) thereon, at the access opening of each of thefcompart 6O ments 2 3 for concealing; the interior thereof and for movement relative thereto. Since the doors 31 are rather small and of light weight their mounting means may also be of lightweight construction Thus I prefer mounting means for door 31 which comprise a set of onepiece combined door supporting hinge pin and hinge spring elements. Inv Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings 1 show one of such elements formed of round spring wire. bent and coiled in a particular manner as will lief-presently described. Since the plurality of compartment doors 3; are to, be mounted at opposite edges thereof upon opposed sides or walls of compartments .2 two diff r ntly; eat nd; a led. p ng.v em nts. to

' parts 36 and 38.

one another at the inner side of the door. mit s door 31 to be moved, from the position thereof shown in Figure 6, into the compartment access openform right and left mounting means are employed. These elements are formed from round music wire of approximately .041 inch in diameter and consequently are herein illustrated on an enlarged scale. The spring wire element, generally represented by the reference numeral 34, disclosed in Figure 4 forms a mounting means for the right hand edge of a door 31, as viewed in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, and a similar but oppositely bent and coiled wire element generally represented by the reference numeral 35 (see Figure 3) forms a mounting means for the left hand edge of a door 3.1. The element 34 comprises a predetermined cut length of spring wire which has an elongated part 36 intermediate its ends bent over as at 3'7 and extending along another elongated part 38 thereof. Elongated parts 36 and 38 of spring element 34 are wrapped or coiled around one another in one direction and they form the hinge pin portion of this one-piece element. A portion projecting outwardly from coiled part 36 of wire element 34 is bent as at 39 to provide a resilient projection 40 extending laterally relative thereto and which projection .is further bent at 41, 42 and 43 to provide a hook-like end 44 thereon. A portion projecting from coiled part 38 of wire element 34 is bent at 46 and 47 to provide an end 48 thereon. The other i or left hand spring element 35 is bent similar to element 34 but has its hinge pin forming portion coiled in an opposite direction to that of element 34. After so coiling and shaping the spring elements 34 and 35 they assume a normal or free position as shown in Figures and 6 respectively of the drawings wherein the projecting ends thereof are angularly or arcuately spaced from one another about the axis of their elongated coiled In this free position of the elements 34 and 35 any force applied to the projecting ends thereof in a direction to move the ends 44 and 48 toward one another as viewed in Figures 5 and 6 tends to more tightly coil the elongated parts 36 and 38 which thereby tensions the projecting portions of the elements. The elements 34 and 35 are in this manner rendered capable of providing a biasing effect or action in a circular direction about the parts 36 and 38 thereof when their ends 44 and 48 are brought into the same plane with one another. The laterally extending portion 40 of elements 34 and 35 is resilient and is springable to produce a biasing action in a direction paralleling the extension of elongated parts 36 and 38 thereof.

The doors 31 are adapted to be removably mounted upon opposed side walls of the compartments 23 for closing the access opening thereof and for vertical swinging movement relative thereto to open the compartments. Thus I assemble one of each of the one-piece combined hinge pin and hinge spring elements 34 and 35 to opposite side edges of a door 31 and hold the door substantially in the position thereof shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. This assembly consists in inserting the elongated hinge pin parts 36 and 38 of the right and left hand elements 34 and 35 into bores 51 and 52 respectively (see Figure 3) provided in the lower opposite side edge portions of a door 31. At the time of this insertion the end 48 of the opposed elements 34 and '35 is also inserted into smaller bores 53 and 54 pro vided in the side edges of door 31 above and in vertical alignment with the bores 51 and 52. In this manner the end 48 of each element 34 and 35 is anchored to a door 31 for swinging movement therewith and have portions thereof concealed within the door.

The end 44 of opposed elements 34 and 35 assembled upon a door 31 can be forced or sprung toward and past the inner surface of the door, as viewed in Figure 6 of the drawings, and then the projection 40 on these elements are compressed in a direction toward This per- 4 ing bounded by opposite side surfaces 28 of the shouldered door jamb thereof. Portions 40 and 44 of each opposed element 34 and 35 are now brought into alignment with the cavities 56 and 57 provided in door jamb surfaces 28 whereupon the compressive force applied to projections 40, toward one another, is released and the projections 40 snap into the opposed cavities 57 with the hook end 44 of the elements snapping into cavities 56. Hands of the assembler are removed from door 31 and the dooris thereby pivotally mounted in position within the door jamb at the front of a compartment 23. The ends 44 of elements 34 and 35 are inset within or anchored in the cavities 56 while the resilient part 40 thereof, intermediate bends 41 and 39, are inset within' or anchored in the cavities 57 so as not to interfere with swinging movement of a door 31 and to substantially conceal these parts of the elements at least while the door is closed. This springing and releasing of elements 34 and 35 in addition to tensioning same in a circular direction, about the parts 36 and 38 thereof, whereby they normally bias a door 31 closed also maintains the resilient projecting parts 40 thereof slightly compressed between opposed side walls of a compartment 23 whereby the portions 40 bias and at all times hold the door centered with respect to the compartment access opening. A door 31 mounted as described and as shown is normally biased shut within the door jamb and with its edge portions bearing against the shoulder or flange 26 thereof. A door 31 is vertically swingable about its pivotal mounting, hinge pin portions or parts 36 and 38 of the spring elements 34 and 35, to open a compartment access opening. Thus when the knob32 of a door 31 is grasped by the hand and pulled forwardly and downwardly the door closing biasing action of spring elements 34 and 35 is manually overcome and the door is swung open (see Figure 2). The downward opening swinging movement of a door 31 causes twisting of the coiled elongated hinge pin parts 36 and 38 of spring elements 34 and 35 in a direction opposite the direction of coil thereof which tends to unwind their parts 36 and 38 and torsions at least one of the coiled parts for a purpose to be presently described. Upon releasing an opened door 31 it swings or is returned to closing position, automatically in response to or under the influence of the tensioned parts and the torsioned coiled part of the hinge pin portion of elements 34 and 35, for again rendering the elements effective to fully close the door and maintain it shut. I have discovered that by torsioning an elongated coiled hinge pin portion of one-piece combined wire elements of the character disclosed in a direction opposite their coiled direction instead of in the direction of coil thereof they are not tightly twisted upon opening movements of a door thus I retain their efiicient biasing eifect over long periods of time and reduce breakage or fracture thereof to a minimum. This is particularly important in the use of one-piece wire spring elements of the size and type disclosed. Should a door 31 become damaged or broken necessitating replacement thereof a sharp pointed tool such as a screw driver or the like may be wedged into a cavity 57 behind a portion of the resilient part 40 of an element 34 or 35 therein to spring same outwardly of the cavity and permit detachment of a door from walls of a compartment.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that my one-piece combined hinge pin and hinge spring elements together with the novel mounting thereof eliminate the necessity of hingedly mounting a door by two or three part hinges and screws for securing the parts of the hinges. By mounting the hinging elements of my door biasing devices in the manner disclosed the elements are substantially concealed from view, at least while the doors are biased shut, and thus the elements do not detract from the smooth neat appearance of the front of the compartments. The torsioning of the hinge pin portion of the door hinging spring elements in a direction opposite the coiled direction thereof does not unduly stretch, twist or strain the metal of the elements and they thereby retain a predetermined resiliency to insure of their constant biasing of a door. My combined door supporting hinge pin and hinge spring elements are economical to produce, readily assembled and after being assembled bias a door shut and when a door is moved about its pivotal mounting this biasing action is augmented or increased by torsioning the elements in a direction to unWind the parts 36 and 38 rather than to wind them tighter but in so doing energy is stored therein for returning the door to the closed position when one releases the door. In this manner a door is easily opened and more readily held in an open position while access to a compartment is being had and this feature is particularly desirable in the use or operation of light weight doors normally closing small auxiliary compartments in a refrigerator cabinet or on the door thereof.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow. What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, walls defining a compartment provided with an access opening and a door for the opening, means pivotally mounting opposite edges of said door upon opposed sides of said compartment for movement relative thereto, each of said means comprising a one-piece spring element, said elements each including an elongated part bent over and extending along another elongated part thereof, said parts of said elements being disposed substantially in alignment with the axis of movement of said door and having ends projectings therefrom, the end of one elongated part of each of said elements being anchored to said door for movement therewith and the end of the other elongated part of said elements being bent to extend laterally therefrom, said laterally extending end of said other elongated part of said elements being anchored upon the opposed sides of said compartment, said anchoring of the ends of said one-piece spring elements tensioning same to normally bias said door closed, said door being swingable about said elongated parts of said elements to open and close the access opening of said compartment, and the laterally extending end of said other elongated part of said elements being resilient and bearing against said opposed sides of the compartment to hold said door centered with respect to the opening therein.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein the resilient end of the other elongated part of the spring elements are movable away from sides of the compartment to detach the door therefrom.

3. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein one of the elongated parts of the spring elements is coiled around another elongated part thereof and is torsioned in a direction opposite the door biasing direction of the elements by swinging the door open.

4. In combination, walls defining a compartment'provided with an access opening and a door for the opening, means pivotally mounting opposite edges of said door upon opposed walls of said compartment inwardly of the opening therein for movement relative thereto, each of said means comprising a one-piece combined door supporting hinge pin and hinge spring element, said elements each including an elongated part bent over and extending along another elongated part thereof to form the hinge pin portion of the elements, said elongated parts of each element being disposed in an aperture provided in said opposite edges of the door and having ends projecting therefrom, the end of one elongated part of each of said elements being anchored to said door for movement therewith and the end of the other elongated part of said elements being bent to extend laterally therefrom, said laterally extending end of said other elongated part of said elements being anchored in a cavity provided in the opposed Walls of said compartment, said anchoring of the ends of said one-piece elements ensioning same to normally bias said door closed, said door being swingable about the hinge pin portion of said elements to open and close the access opening of said compartment, and the laterally extending end of said other elongated part of said elements being resilient and bearing against said opposed compartment walls to hold said door centered within said compartment access opening.

5. The combination defined by claim 4 wherein the resilient end of the other elongated part of the elements are snapped into the cavity in the compartment walls and are springable outwardly thereof to detach the door from the compartment. 7

6. The combination defined by claim 4 wherein one of the elongated parts of the one-piece elements is coiled around another elongated part thereof and is torsioned in a direction opposite the door biasing direction of the elements by swinging the door open.

7. In combination, walls defining a compartment provided with an access opening and a door for the opening, means pivotally mounting opposite edges of said door upon opposed walls of said compartment for movement relative thereto, at least the means at one edge of said door comprising a one-piece combined door supporting hinge pin and hinge spring element, said element including an elongated part bent over and extending along another elongated part thereof to form the hinge pin portion of the element, said parts of said element being disposed substantially in alignment with the axis of movement of said door and having ends spaced therefrom and-directed in opposite directions, the end on one elongated part of said element being anchored to said door for movement therewith and the end on the other elongated part of said element being stationarily anchored to a wall of said compartment, said anchoring of the ends of said one-piece spring element tensioning same to normally bias said door closed, said door being swingable about said elongated parts of said element to open and close the access opening of said compartment, and that portion of said spring element between said end thereof anchored to said compartment and the other elongated part of the element being resilient and bearing against said compartment wall to hold said door centered within the compartment access opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,443,095 Conant June 8, '1948 2,483,304 Vogel Sept. 27, 1949 2,781,543 Majeske Feb. 19, 1957 

